Students from Springwood High School sent to court after reaching mock trial finals

Students from Springwood High School have a court date set after making it through to the finals of a national competition.

The 13-year-old students have already made it through two heats of the Magistrates Mock Trial Competition and are now readying for the finals in Victoria Law Court, Birmingham, on Saturday.

The team of 10 has been preparing for the finals by taking on various roles in a trial to try a case against another school, learning both sides of prosecution and defence.

One of the finalists, Craig Ward said: “We will be presenting one side of two difference cases on the day of the national final, prosecuting one case and defending another.

“However, until we arrive on the day, we will not know which side of which case we have to do.

“Therefore we have been working really hard over half term to learn everything from both sides of the case off by heart.

“We really want to prove that despite the bad press teenagers get, many like us, are studious and want to work hard and do well.”

As part of their preparation the students have also been campaigning for sponsorship, to cover the cost of travel and overnight accommodation.

National law firm, Slater and Gordon, contributed the cause.

Chief executive of Slater and Gordon, David Whitmore said: “We are incredibly pleased to support these ambitious and astute youngsters taking part in such a worthwhile initiative.

“A competition like this could be the start of a promising career in law.

“I cannot think of a better way to sample the various job roles the courtroom has to offer and to learn so many transferable and invaluable skills that will go on to benefit them for the rest of their lives.

“We wish them the best of luck and who knows, we might be welcoming some of them into our firm, in the future.”